Isotope effects are widely used in infrared analyses of a range of chemical systems. Water molecules with three active modes are one of the most studied for testing the applicability of theoretical models. Whereas the IR spectrum of free gaseous water is very complex due to the accompanying rotational spectral features, the ATR-FTIR spectrum of a…

This article examines newly introduced eccentricity topological descriptors that are used to analyze the structures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The purpose is to identify structural components that have a significant impact on physicochemical properties. Regression analysis applies to find potential correlation between different drugs…

A frequent challenge that graduate and undergraduate students in chemistry, biology, and pharmacy laboratories face is accurately assigning proton and carbon peaks in the 1D and 2D Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of organic and pharmaceutical molecules. We propose a consistent, step-by-step approach to effectively assist students in…

A laboratory experiment has been designed for teaching laboratories aimed at training students in the basics of spectroscopy in junior and senior level undergraduate chemistry courses. Despite the ubiquity of light-based tools in modern science, students often find it difficult to comprehend light and light-matter interactions. A portable…

The self-association of caffeine in solution, driven by the hydrophobic effect, is a simple example of molecular aggregation. It obeys an isodesmic association model in which each successive binding occurs with the same equilibrium constant. Here, we describe an activity for chemistry students that explores this phenomenon using nuclear magnetic…

Student engagement in evidence-based argumentation plays a central role in science education. These skills can be developed when identifying organic molecules from the spectroscopic data. Molecular structural analysis fosters deep procedural knowledge, as it involves (i) flexibly applying a set of procedures to extract information from spectra,…

The function of proteins is governed by their three-dimensional structure. This structure is determined by the chemical characteristics and atomic interactions of amino acids. Students of biochemistry, with a particular focus on protein chemistry, benefit from looking at protein structures and understanding how proteins are built and fold. Due to…

Hybridization is a bonding model, universally used in organic chemistry, which allows consideration of two-electron localized bonds in organic molecules. Without hybridization, it is almost impossible to describe aspects such as hyperconjugation for the stabilization of carbocations and alkane conformers. Hybridization is often presented in…

We assume the existence of conceptual profiles as a manifestation of pluralism in science education. This means recognizing the heterogeneity of thinking and speaking, that is, the coexistence of two or more meanings of the same word or concept that are accessed and used by the individual in appropriate contexts. Science is not a homogeneous way…

The ability to reason with representations is pivotal for successful learning in Organic Chemistry and is closely linked to representational competence. Given the visual nature of this discipline, this comprises competency in extracting and processing relevant visual information. With regard to the resonance concept, proficiency in identifying…

Water is one of the most common molecules in the universe. Water is polarized, but it has many states besides the normal tetrahedron depicted in standard biology texts. Water is also the most ubiquitous molecule on Earth, the universal solvent. It is the internal and external habitat of cells. Ecologically, water is contiguous with life and the…

The ability to extract structural information from a drawing of a molecule is key to being successful in organic chemistry. One source of difficulty for novices in interpreting structures is that hydrogens bound to carbon are represented implicitly in the often-used line-angle structures. Other representations that explicitly show hydrogens, such…

Understanding molecular structure is fundamental in chemistry education. However, commercially available molecular model kits are often expensive and are not always present in educational institutions. Here we present "ChemBotCap," an innovative, low-cost, and engaging alternative for modeling simple inorganic and organic molecules using…

Teaching the three-dimensional structure of saccharides has consistently been a challenging aspect of organic chemistry courses, impeding students' ability to grasp more advanced topics in biochemistry and food chemistry. In this article, we designed and developed a novel d-glucopyranose model using 3D printing technology for the first time. This…

Scientific publications, textbooks, and online educational resources rely on illustrated figures to communicate about molecular structures like genes and chromosomes. Published figures have the potential to shape how learners think about these molecular structures and their functions, so it is important that figures are clear, unambiguous, and…